It's been a year since the death of Tommy Merlyn and the destruction of the Glades. Oliver has been living alone on the island where he was marooned for 5 years. Digg and Felicity want him to return to Starling City and he agrees for his family's sake but he refuses to put on the hood. Roy and Thea are still together but she's not too keen on his efforts to deal with drug dealers. She's been running the nightclub during Oliver's absence but hasn't visited her mother. Queen Consolidated is in trouble and Isabel Rochev is out to gain control. Oliver turns to Walter Steele for help. Laurel Lance has joined the District Attorney's office and is present at a fund-raiser when the mayor is gunned down by vigilantes seeking revenge for what happened in the Glades. They then turn their sights on Oliver. In flashbacks to Oliver's time on the island, 5 months have passed since they stopped Fryers but they find others are on the island. Shado is soon taken prisoner...